Panellists at yesterday's event said they were trying to remain upbeat about trading over the coming months, but disagreed about the extent of difficulties they would face.
Travel Counsellors managing director Steve Byrne said UK business is currently 6% down, and forward bookings are 10% down.
He said: ‘I am upbeat and positive that next year should be better.
‘You can get distracted by the recession. Even though you may be 10-20% down, 80% are still going to be travelling.’
But he warned: ‘It may not come back to the levels that it was. I don’t see that movement on margins.’
Chris Galanty, managing director of Flight Centre, said; ‘Mortgage interest rates have gone down, so some people do have more money in their pocket. However, people are waiting to see on price and personal circumstances.
‘Long-haul, such as Thailand and the Pacific, are becoming a lates market, and that is unlikely to change.’
Picture shows, from left: Steve Byrne, Liz Savage, Chris Galanty, Dermot Blastland and moderator Michael East.
TUI Travel managing director Dermot Blastland said he was ‘cautiously optimistic’ about next year. He said: ‘We are already on sale with long haul and that is pretty encouraging. The November to March period will be more promising.’
However, Monarch Flights and Holidays managing director Liz Savage said she was ‘less positive’ about 2010.
‘Airlines are the ones at the beginning of the chain. 2010 will be a much more conservative year. It will be a year before the whole system adjusts.
‘By 2011 I am sure I will be more optimistic.’
A poll of delegates at the Barclays Travel Forum revealed 70% did not foresee an improvement next year.
The Barclays Travel Forum was introduced by Barclays Commercial director, head of travel, Chris Lee and moderated by Michael East, managing director of Eastcastle Management Group.
More Barclays Travel Forum news:
Barclays sees ‘green roots’, not ‘green shoots’ (18/06/2009)
No-frills rely too much on ‘penalty charges’ (18/06/2009)
And see also:
Public confidence on the up (03/06/2009)
Redundancy fears limit holiday habits (02/06/2009)
Fear factor affecting consumer spend (16/04/2009)